Funeral for teenage soldier held

Pte Ben Ford was on his first overseas deployment when he died

The funeral of a soldier from Derbyshire, killed in southern Afghanistan when his vehicle was hit by an explosion, has taken place.

Private Ben Ford from Chesterfield died after a fight with the Taleban in Helmand province on 5 September.

Another soldier, Private Damian Wright, from Nottinghamshire, was also killed. Both were from the Mercian Regiment.

The service for Pte Ford was held at the Chesterfield and District Crematorium on Tuesday.

A civilian interpreter died and another soldier was wounded in the battle, in which 20 suspected insurgents died.

Both soldiers were taking part in a routine reassurance patrol 17km north of Lashkar Gah when the Land Rover vehicle they were travelling in was caught in an explosion.

'Tremendous soldier'

Pte Ford, 18, joined the Army in 2005, and joined the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment, which became the Mercian Regiment.

He was on his first overseas deployment with the Army.

After his death, Lt Col Simon Banton, his commanding officer in the Mercian Regiment, said: "Private Ford was a tremendous young soldier. Fit and enthusiastic, hardworking and committed to his comrades and a career in the Army."

Maj Paul Gilby, his company commanding officer, said: "He was young on paper, at the age of only 18. However, in life he was mature beyond his years in attitude, bearing and ability."